Brick or block casting machine



July 11,1950 R. s. REED BRICK OR BLOCK CASTING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 18, 1946 Ill July 11, 1950 R. s. REED BRICK 0R BLOCK CASTING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 18, 1946 INVENTOR. BY flafizr/ J. 5 60 the amplitude of vibration adjusted by an machine in. an optional Patented July 11,1950

PATENT oFElcE BRICK OR; BLOCK CASTING Robert SaReed; ThreeRiversyMichi Application October 18', 1946,, Serial'No. 7045246 invention rd ates; to improvements in brick or block casting machines.

The principal objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a machine for' casting inadividualbricksor buildingblocks-with a vibratory packing systemw-hi'ch' is both compact-,- and easily operated.

Second, to provide a brick casting machine in which there are no rotating or reciprocating partsinthe vibratory system to" become'worn or get outof order: v 7

Third, to provide a brick casting machine-in which" the vibrating machinery and? controls therefor are efiectivel'y' enclosed and protected against" contactwith" mortar and water.

Fourth, to providea casting machine in which cast? a plurality ofbricksonay simpl'e removable 2 'pallet"so that the handling and the curing of the bricks after castingfisfacilitated;

Sixth, to provide a; casting machine which is easily adaptable to makingeither a; plurality of bricks or" one or more-*larger'b'locksi Other objectsandadvantages pertaining tothe details and economies attire-invention will be apparent from a consideration'ofjthefol'lowingdescription. The drawings, of" which there are two sheets, illustrate a; preferrediorm of casting machines. v a

'Fi'gf'l is aperspective view ofmy casting machine in closed. orvibrating position: Fig. 2' is a fragmentary perspective view of the brick forming;sectionflofmy'machine "inpartially 35 open position showingcompleted? bricks in place thereon.

Fig. 3 is" a fragmentary cross-sectional view' along the plane 3-3 in Fig. 4. Fig. 4" is a fragmentaryplan view ofmy casting. machine in closed position: j

Fig. is an 'enlargedjfragmentary cross-sec tional view similar toFi'g. 3' but showing the arrangement for making" large blocks.

In the drawings the reference numeral I in dicates the base of my casting machinewhich consists of a welded angleiron frame and sheet metal panels enclosing suitable power supply and. regulating mechanism at 2 to be more particularly described presently. A. heavy metal plate IA welded. to the top of the" frame adds rigidity to the frameandprotects-'the-regulating mechanism; r g p MOu ted ctr-themse- Fon fourbolteand coil 55,-.

4:.Glaims... (01. 25-41) 2; springs 3 are a;- pair of channel support members 4- which form supports for the side plates 5 connected thereto by the brackets 6. The side plates have welded thereto vertical angle members- I which extend above the center of the side plates and form supports for the ends ot abacking plate 8. Anglebrackets 9 (see Figs. 1' and 5') secured tothe insides of side plates 5 form supports fora bed; plate [9 which extends horizontally between the side platesforwardly of" the vertical angles 1 The bed plate H) has two or more wooden riser bl'oclss H secured to its upper surface which form supports for the removable pallet H freely supported thereon.

The backing plate 8 is vertically slotted. as at 13* through approximately theupper half of its width'to pass eight divider plates M which extend forwardly 'across' the top surface of the: pallet I 2. The rear-ends ofthe' divider plates. are secured to and spaced along a threaded spacer bolt I5; their spacing being determined by I6 threaded: on the bolt on each side of each divider plate: The spacer. bolt i5 is supported at its ends-in guide plates IT which define hori-- zontal sI-ots-l=8 which the spacer: boltis arranged to be translated forwardly and backwardl-y. The forward edges of the guide plates [T- are flanged'in-wardly as at l9 and securedto the opposite sides of the vertical angle members I from the backingplate' 8. Secured to each end of thespacer bolt l 5 are levers having their lower ends pivotally mounted as at 2| to theside plates 51. The divider plates are thu ar'-- ranged to reciprocate; forwardly and backwardly through the slots l'3-in the back plate. and over the pallet t2 asindicatedbythe dotted lines at 22 in Fig. 3;. by movement-of the levers 2'01 and bolt l5.

Connected to the levers 2|): intermediate of the. ends thereof: are a pair of links 23 which:

extendforwardl y of themachinezand haveithein front ends secured tothe bottom: of front: levers 24 as at 25: The levers 2'4 are pivotal lysupported as at 26' on the forward corners of the sidepl'ates 5 1 The front-levers 2'4 have anangul-ar shaped cross section at their upqoenerm'l's and are secured to a front plate 2 which is vertically slotted as at 28 corresponding to the slots the backing plate 8 'Ihehandleidsecured to the frontplate by the Z-shaped-brackets 30- is operable to tip=the front plate 2:1 and front: levers it'forwardly about the pivotszt. Forward motionofthe-handle 29 wil1 throw the links. 23 andthe rear levers' Z'W'tothe rear of the machine sim-l-fl-taneousl-y causing the spacerv bolt to be:

moved to the rear of the slots is in the guide plates and drawing the divider plates through the slots I3 away from the pallet I2, thus leaving the bricks 3| freely supported on the pallet and spaced so that air may circulate therearound for proper curing of the mortar.

The mechanism for vibrating the bed plate In and the pallet 12 carried thereon is most clearly illustrated in Fig. 3 and consists of supporting brackets 32 secured to the under side of the bed plate and directlyconnected to the middle of the longitudinal springs 33 by studs 34 which extend downwardly to the ends of a transverse spring 35. The ends of the longitudinal springs and the middle of the transverse spring are connected to lower brackets 36. The support brackets 32 have clamped therebetween a series of laminated core plates 37 which are slightly spaced from and cooperate with a series of laminated armature plates 38 clamped between the lower brackets 36 to complete a magnetic path 1 larger casting cavities for making larger blocks. Obviously variation in the size and spacing of the front plate, backing plate and divider plates 1 will provide a varying number and size of bricks or blocks cast.- The machine is made almost enfor flux set up by a magneticcoil not shown.

The'coil is connected through anelectrical cable 39 (see Fig. 1)'to the power supply and control mechanism 2 in the base of the machine. The control mechanism includes a rectifierand rheostat, for converting alternating current to a pulsating current of variable amplitude to cause the core 31 and armature 38 to be attracted toward each other once during each cycle of the alternating current thus vibrating the bed plate l0 and the pallet carried thereon. Varying the amount of current in the coil by adjusting the rheostat knob 40 changes the amplitude of vibration making the machine quickly adaptable to various weights of aggregate. A foot operated lever or pedal switch 4| connected to the control mechanism by electrical cables 42 is provided so that the operator of the machine may have both hands free tomanipulate' the handle 29. Sheet metal panels 43,.clamped between the underside of the bed plate andthe brackets 32 entire- 1y enclose the vibrating equipment and protect it from mortar and dust. The details of the control'mechanism'2 and vibratin mechanism are not describedor illustrated ;in greater detail as these partsare standard commercial products sold under the trade name of Syntron by the Syntron Company of Homer City, Pennsylvania.

Inoperation the handle will be'drawn forwardly exposing, the riser blocks H;so that a new pallet [2 may be placed thereon. The handle is then thrown forwardly drawing the divider plates forwardly over the pallet and into engagement with the slots'in the front plate 21 ;to

maintain thevertical alignment of the dividers. A quantity of mortarmay then be poured into the spaces between the divider plates suflicient,

well known that light weight aggregates must 7 be vibrated with less amplitude than heavy aggregate which requires a longer travel or amplitude of vibration to be compacted properly. The

speed and advantages of vibratory casting of cement mortar are well known and need no further description and the molding operation can be completedin a very short time after which the operator will again draw the handle forwardly simultaneously withdrawingthe divider plates and permittingthe removal ;of the pallet: and the completed bricks. The,- smooth pallet,

tirely' of standard plate and angle stock and so is inexpensive to manufacture.

Having thus described" my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A brick casting machine COIIlpllSiIlg a base, a pair of laterally spacedchannel-shaped supports yieldingly mounted on said base, vertical side plates on said supports, a vertical member carried near the center of each side plate and extending thereabove, a horizontal bed plate supported on said side plates forwardly of said verticalmembers and adapted to freely support a removable pallet, a magnetic vibrator secured to the under side of said bed platefa backing plate extending between sai d vertical members and behind said'bed plate, said backing plate defining a plurality of vertical slots from the upper edge thereof, guide plates secured to said vertical members and extending to the rear of said backing plate, said guide'plat'es defining horizontal slots, athreaded spacerba'rhaving its ends translatable along said slots and extending therethrough, a plurality of divider plates havin their rear ends secured between nuts on said spacer b-arl' and extendin through said slots-in said backing plate, rear lever members secured to the ends 'of said spacer bar and pivotally connected to said side plates, front levers pivotally mounted onsaid' side plates near the front thereof, a front-plate secured between said front levers and defining a plurality of vertical slots in the planes .of said slots in'said backing "parallel to said backing'iplate, an operating handle connected between said brackets, and power supply mechanism for saidvibrator enclosed in said base. 4 1.". I 1

2. A brick casting .m'achine. -com glrising a base,

a pair of laterally spaced support members yieldingly supported on'said b'ase,v'ertical sideplates supported on said support' ,members, a vertical member carried near the centerof each side plate and extending thereabove, a transverse. bed plate supported. on said side plates. forwardly of said vertical members and adapted to freely sup 1 port a removable pallet,;a magneticjvibrator securedto the underside; of 'sjaid"trlansverse sup-' port. plate, a backing, plate QeXtending between said vertical members and behind said bed plate,

bar having its ends translatable along said slots and extending therebetween, a plurality of di-' vider plates having their rear ends pivotally secured to said spacer bar and extending through said slots in said backing plate, rear lever members secured to said spacer bar and pivotally connected to said side plates, front levers pivotally mounted on said side plates near the front thereof, a front plate secured between said front levers and defining a plurality of vertical slots coplanar with said slots in said backing plate, links pivotally connected between said front levers and rear levers, brackets secured to said front plate,

an operating handle connected between said brackets, and power supply mechanism for said vibrator enclosed in said base.

3. A brick casting machine comprising a support including a vertical backing plate and horizontal bed plate, said backing plate definin a plurality of vertical slots, a slotted front plate pivotally supported on said support and arranged to be tilted into vertical position in front of said bed plate, a transverse spacer bar slidably supportedon said support and arranged to be moved toward and away from the rear of said backing plate in parallel relationship thereto, a plurality of Vertical divider plates having their rear ends pivotally secured to said spacer bar whereby said 4. A brick casting machine comprising a base, a support yieldingly mounted on said base and including a vertical backing plate and horizontal bed plate adjacent the front lower edge of said backing plate, said backing plate defining a plurality of vertical slots, magnetic vibrating equipment secured to the under side of said bed plate, power supply and control mechanism for said vibrating mechanism enclosed in said base, a slotted front plate pivotally supported on said support and arranged to be tilted into vertical position in front of said bed plate, a transverse spacer bar slidably supported on said support and arranged to be moved toward and away from said backing plate, a plurality of vertical divider plates having their rear ends pivotally secured to said spacer bar and translatable therewith through said backing plate into engagement with the slots in said front plate, and linkage connecting said front plate and spacer bar operative to effect simultaneous forward movement of said front plate and rearward movement of said spacer bar and divider plates.

ROBERT S. REED.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Schutt Apr. 2, 1946 

